Posture brace



Jan. 7, 1964 c. J. GEIMER 3,116,735

POSTURE BRACE Filed Aug. 11. 1960 IN V EN TOR.

COR/VAN J J. 651M 2 BYf/m K QJ V A 7' TOR/Vi Y8 United States Patent Ofilice Patented Jan. 7, ra es The present invention relates to an improved orthopedic device to improve the human posture by bracing and holdin the shoulders to tend to cause the trunk to assume and maintain an erect and straight position. More particularly, the posture brace of the invention is characterized by a; elastic band encircling the waist in a manner to provide a healthful support over the abdomen from beneath, and, because of its compressive effect, also to produce an enhanced slim appearance.

The natural position of the trunk and shoulders is an erect one, more or less perpendicular to a surface upon which a person is. standing, in contrast to a slumped or forward leaning position. Present day orthopedic devices to promote such posture ordinarily take the form of fabric braces of one sort or another made entirely of non-stretchable material, hence tending to completely restrict movement of the shoulders. By contrast, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device which combines the functions of a. posture brace and abdomen support, serving as a gentle posture reminder while still providing a desiredly positive remedial action. In this it exerts an effective and ever-present force which increases or decreases in degree in direct response to the wearers posture. Thus, if the wearer stands erect, almost no shoulder pull-back force is to be noted, but as soon as he leans forward or slumps, or allows the shoulders to point forward, such force will be progressively exerted, being gentle at first and increasing the further the wearer slumps.

A more specific object is to provide a posture brace and abdomen support as described, which is in considerable par-t constructed of a dual-stretch elastic fabric, in the interest oi the comic t of the wearer, and which will stretch and give in various directions so that the motions of the body are not appreciably restricted.

More particularly, the invention affords a posture brace or garment characterized by an elastic back section, whose degree of resistance to stretch and whose strength may be augmented by the incorporation therein of further, angularly oriented slings stitched thereto in crossing relation to one another, or by other equivalent provisions, such back section or panel extending between shoulder-engaging anm bands. The result is that these bands tend constantly to pull the shoulders back, yet not unduly to restrict an intentional movement of the shoulders in any direction.

A further object is to provide such a garment in which the shoulder or arm engaging bands referred to are constituted of a relative inelastic or non-elastic material, appropriately padded and edged for the comfort of the wearer.

A still further object is to provide a brace as described, in which the elastic back section has connected thereto as, in effect, lower lateral extensions, a pair of abdomen engaging, bracing and supporting panels of stretchable tabric, preferably elastic of the same degree of stretchability as the back panels. These encircle the abdomen from either side and, when connected to one another at the front by hook and eye, zipper or other releasable connecting means, have the efiect of lifting the abdomen in a positive and eflective manner, although without discomfort to the wearer.

Thus, there is constituted a vest type of construction in which the abdomen support, as anchored at the shoulders and biased by its own resilient construction, as well as that of the elastic back panel, and as cinched in tightly around the lower Zone of the abdomen, lifts the abdominal area with a remedial effect. This is much to be preferred over a mere flattening or compression of the abdomen, which tends to push the organs inwardly, rather than left them upwards and hold them in their natural position. The abdominal section of the posture brace garment reinforces the natural action of the abdominal muscles which, if in proper tone, hold the internal organs in place and prevent them from dropping downwards or protruding fonwardly.

Thus, it is seen to be a general object of the invention to provide a combined action garment which, because of the relationship to one another of its shoulder engaging straps, its elastic back panel and its elastic abdomen portion, causes the desired straightening of the shoulders to contribute to a desired support of the abdomen, and vice versa.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, wherein:

H6. 1 is a front elevational view of the improved posture brace, showing one of two abdorne supporting elastic panels swung outwardly from its normal position in which the brace is folded for packaging;

H6. 2 is a rear elevational view or" the brace; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the brace as worn by an individual.

The improved brace is generally designated by the reference numeral lid, and is, in general, constituted by a back panel, generally designated ll, a pair of like arm or shoulder embracing straps 12 in the form of closed loops secured to the back panel in a manner to be described, and a pair of abdomen encircling panels 13, 14- extending laterally from the opposite sides of back panel 11.

The back panel M is constituted by a generally rectangular section of fabric, preferably elastic throughout and, by further preference, bi-directionally elastic. Should the elasticity of this material vary as to its degree of stretch in the horizontal direction as compared with the vertical, the material is preferably oriented with its major stretchability in the horizontal or lateral direction. Although, as indicated, the back ii is shown and is preferred in a single panel, it may, in accordance with the invention, be otherwise constituted, as by a suit-able nonstretchable cloth combined with seamed-in elastic fabric, in various optional arrangements. Moreover, the elasticity may be varied as desired to modify the effort exerted on the shoulders to place and maintain them in a laterally and vertically straight plane by a suitable selection of the elastic fabric, or of other elasticity imparting means which may be incorporated in the back panel ll.

Panel 11 may be considered as theoretically subdivided into an upper back section or portion 16, which is arcuately contoured at 17 at opposite sides thereof for comfortable conformity with the shoulder blades of the Viewer; and a lower back section or portion 18 engaging the body across the lower spine area.

The top of upper back section 15 has a V-contour at 19; and the arm or shoulder straps 12 are connected to the top portions of the upper back section is defined by its contouring at l7, 19, as by appropriate stitched fabric tape 2%. They are similarly connected to the lower side of upper back panel 16, directly beneath its shoulder contours 17, as by lengths of similar stitched tape E l. These lengths also secure the respective abdomen encircling panels l3, 14 to the sides of the lower section lEi of back 11, since in the interest of best cutting and economy it is desirable that the abdomen panels l3, 15 be nonintegral with the braces back 11. re arm or shoulder straps 12 are, both in the interests of the wearers comfort and adequate strength, preferably fabricated of a padded fabric of suitable tensile strength for tnc purpose, edged on opposite sides thereof by lengths 22 of stitched bias tape or binding. The upper margin of the top back contour 15 as well as the margins of the shoulder contours 17, are edged with lengths 23, 2 2, respectively, of longitudinally stretchable elastic tape, preferably of a higher degree of elasticity than the material of back 11, hence more comfortable in adapting to the contour of the wearers body.

As indicated above, the abdomen encircling and supporting panels 13 are preferably formed of the same material as the garments back ll, with major stretchability, if the material is unequally elastic in two directions, in the horizontal direction They are faced at the top thereof by lengths 25 of elastic tape similar to the edging lengths 2%, 24; and the entire length of the bottom margin of the bracing garment is edged with similar tape 26, so that the panels 13, i i w nen united to one another will afford a comfortable sling to support the abdomen from beneath.

Suitable means are provided to secure the panels 13 and 14 to one another, shown in the illustrated embodiment as a series of ven 'cally spaced hooks secured to a nonelastic bias binding or tape 29 stitched along the upright outer edge of panel 33, and two series of vertically spaced eyes 3%} similarly secured to bias binding '31 stitched along the corresponding upright edge of panel 14, so as to enable a degree of adjustability as to the cinching action of the panels 13, 1 3 when rcmovably secured to one another by such means.

As indicated above, the back ll of brace it may be constituted by co nbined panels of elastic and inelastic material. its action may, furthermore, be supplemented by additional means, elastic or not, incorporated therein.

Thus, the illustrated embodim nt of the brace employs a pair of diagonally arranged strips 33 of suitable width and length disposed in crossing relationship to one another. These are stitched to the material of the back 11 along the longitudinal edges thereof, and are seamed to the back at the zones of the tapes Eli and 21. it is contemplated that the strips 33 shall be of a longitudinally or bi-directionally stretchable material of the same degree of elasticity as the back it proper to which they are secured, although they may, it will be appreciated, vary in this matter, being of greater or lesser stretchability. These matters, as well as the degree of elasticity of other resilient panels of the garment, will be determined in accordance with the force which it is destired to exert in tending to restrain the shoulders upright and, in consequence, the degree of holding action to be exerted upwardly on the abdomen of the wearer.

The device is shown in FIG. 3 as worn. its action may be considered comparable to the effect of a coiled spring located horizontally to the rear of the wearer across the shoulder blades and attached to the points of the shoulder. It will remain in a relatively relaxed condition until either one or both shoulders takes a forward movement, in which case the spring would be stretched lengthwise and would exert a continuing pressure to return the shoulders to original upright condition.

The effect of the abdomen supporting panels is the same as that of an elastic sling hanging from the shoulders and, as cinched tightly around the bottom zone of the abdomen, lifting this zone, without undue compression, in a very desirable manner. However, the invention improves upon this single effect, which would have a deleterious effect upon the shoulders, since the elastic action imparted to the straps from the rear area between the shoulders, supplemented by the elastic reaction of the abdomen supporting force, also straightens the shoulders. Thus, there is a cosmetic advantage as well as orthopedic advantages, in that the erectness imparted, coupled with i the slimming of the wearers waist, considerably improve the wearers appearance.

In regard to the last named matter, it is contemplated that the garment may be made extended in 2. gr ather length at its bottom, so as to come further down over the hips and act as a girdle to which suitable garter means may be attached.

The effect of the rc'mforcing or supplementary crossed elastic strips is analogous to that of a pair of guy wires which, as anchored to the ground, extend in opposing inclination to the top of the pole to hold it upright against forward pull pressure. There exists a diagonal pull from the top of each hip bone to the opposite shoulder to mechanically restrain the letter from forward movement or, if such movement occurs, to more or less gently return the shoulders to erect upright position.

The principles of the invention render the improved brace particularly desirable for use in the proper training of children, or correction of their posture; although it is apparent from the foregoing, that the br ce is also of value in the promotion of appropriate posture and support of body in adults.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A posture corrective device comprising a fabric panel of a predetermined degree of elasticity to engage against the back of a wearer, a pair of shoulder cng rig and restraining straps of relatively inelastic material secured to said panel respectively adjacent laterally opposed, vertically spaced upper and lower side edges of the panel to extend forwardly of said op; site side edges, said straps being adapted for engagement forwardly about the shoulders of the wearer, elastic strips each secured at one end thereof to said back engaging panel adjacent said respective upper side edges of the latter, said strips being secured at the opposite ends thereof to said panel adjacent said lower side edges of the latter and being in diagonal crossing relation to one another LO modify the elasticity of said back engaging panel, said back engaging panel being provided with a lower extension portion engageable across the lower spine zone of the wearer, and an abdomen supporting device secured to opposite upright edges of said lower extension of said back engaging panel to extend laterally therefrom and having means to rcleasably hold the panels thereof across the lower abdomen zone of the wearer.

2. A posture corrective device comprising a fabric panel of a predetermined degree of elasticity to engage against the back of a wearer, a pair of shoulder engaging and restraining straps of inelastic material secured to said panel respectively adjacent laterally opposed, vertically spaced upper and lower side edges of the panel to extend forwardly of said opposite side edges, said straps being adapted for engagement forwardly about the shoulders of the wearer, means including a pair of supplementary strips of elastic material each secured at one end thereof to said back engaging panel adjacent said respective upper side edges of the latter, said strips being secured at the opposite ends thereof to said panel adjacent said lower side edges of the latter and being in diagonal crossing relation to one another to modify the elasticity of said back en, gaging panel, said back engaging panel being provided wili a lower extension portion engageable across the lower spine zone of the wearer, and an elastic abdomen sup orting device comprising a pair of elastic panels secured to opposite upright edges of said lower extension of said back engaging panel to extend laterally therefrom, said adbomen supporting evice being fabricated of longitudinally elastic material comparable in stretchability to that of said back engaging panel and having means to releasably hold the panels thereof across the lower abdomen zone of the wearer.

3. A posture corrective device comprising a back ongaging panel of a fabric of predetermined elasticity, said panel being shaped to provide a pair of vertically spaced portions at each of a pair of sides thereof, a pair of inelastic straps respectively secured to said back engaging panel adjacent said vertically spaced portions at said respective panel sides, said straps being contoured to engage forwardly about the shoulders of a wearer, said straps being unconnected to one another other than through said back engaging panel, said panel being responsive to forward movement of the wearers shoulders to bias said straps in an opposite direction, and thereby tend in a degree proportionate to said forward movement to return the shoulders to erect position, and a pair of supplementary elastic strips disposed in diagonal crossing relation to one another across and directly inwardly of said back engaging panel, said elastic strips being secured to said panel adjacent said portions adjacent which said shoulder engaging straps are secured to the panel and acting jointly with said panel across the wearers back as elastic tension means to maintain the shoulders erect.

4. A posture corrective device comprising a back engaging panel of a fabric of predetermined elasticity, said panel being shaped to provide a pair of vertically spaced portions at each of a pair of sides thereof, a pair of inelastic straps respectively secured to said back engaging panel adjacent said vertically spaced portions at said respective panel sides, said straps being contoured to engage forwardly about the shoulders of a wearer, said straps being unconnected to one another other than through said back engaging panel, said panel being responsive to forward movement of the wearers shoulders to bias said straps in an oppoiste direction, and thereby tend in a degree proportionate to said forward movement to return the shoulders to erect position, said back engaging panel being provided with a lower extension beneath the connection of said straps thereto, and an abdomen engaging device of elastic material secured to said extension and having means to releasably hold the same under tension across the lower abdomen zone of the wearer,

5. A posture corrective device comprising a back engaging panel of a fabric of predetermined elasticity, said panel being shaped to provide a pair of vertically spaced portions at each of a pair of sides thereof, a pair of inelastic straps respectively secured to said back engaging panel adjacent said vertically spaced portions at said respective panel sides, said straps being contoured to engage fonwardly about the shoulders of a wearer, said straps being unconnected to one another other than through said back engaging panel, said panel being responsive to forward movement of the wearers shoulders to bias said straps in an opposite direction, and thereby tend in a degree proportionate to said forward movement to return the shoulders to erect position, a pair of supplementary elastic strips disposed in diagonal crossing relation to one another across and directly inwardly of said back engaging panel, said elastic strips being secured to said panel adjacent said portions adjacent which said shoulder engaging straps are secured to the panel and acting jointly with said panel across the wearers back as elastic tension means to maintain the shoulders erect, said back engaging panel being provided with a lower extension beneath the connection of said straps thereto, and an abdomen engaging device of elastic material secured to said extension and having means to releasably hold the same under tension across the lower abdomen zone of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,129,515 Perry Feb. 23, 1915 1,367,420 Munter Feb. 1, 1921 2,443,316 Israel June 15, 1948 2,586,658 Hormann Feb. 19, 1952 2,794,986 Anderson June 11, 1957 2,888,931 Schaumer June 2, 1959 

1. A POSTURE CORRECTIVE DEVICE COMPRISING A FABRIC PANEL OF A PREDETERMINED DEGREE OF ELASTICITY TO ENGAGE AGAINST THE BACK OF A WEARER, A PAIR OF SHOULDER ENGAGING AND RESTRAINING STRAPS OF RELATIVELY INELASTIC MATERIAL SECURED TO SAID PANEL RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT LATERALLY OPPOSED, VERTICALLY SPACED UPPER AND LOWER SIDE EDGES OF THE PANEL TO EXTEND FORWARDLY OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES, SAID STRAPS BEING ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT FORWARDLY ABOUT THE SHOULDERS OF THE WEARER, ELASTIC STRIPS EACH SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID BACK ENGAGING PANEL ADJACENT SAID RESPECTIVE UPPER SIDE EDGES OF THE LATTER, SAID STRIPS BEING SECURED AT THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF TO SAID PANEL ADJACENT SAID LOWER SIDE EDGES OF THE LATTER AND BEING IN DIAGONAL CROSSING RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER TO MODIFY THE ELASTICITY OF SAID BACK ENGAGING PANEL, SAID BACK ENGAGING PANEL BEING PROVIDED WITH A LOWER EXTENSION PORTION ENGAGEABLE ACROSS THE LOWER SPINE ZONE OF THE WEARER, AND AN ABDOMEN SUPPORTING DEVICE SECURED TO OPPOSITE UPRIGHT EDGES OF SAID LOWER EXTENSION OF SAID BACK ENGAGING PANEL TO EXTEND LATERALLY THEREFROM AND HAVING MEANS TO RELEASABLY HOLD THE PANELS THEREOF ACROSS THE LOWER ABDOMEN ZONE OF THE WEARER. 